EP1254565B1 - Procede pour une presentation de programme a la carte - Google Patents

Procede pour une presentation de programme a la carte Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1254565B1
EP1254565B1 EP01912712A EP01912712A EP1254565B1 EP 1254565 B1 EP1254565 B1 EP 1254565B1 EP 01912712 A EP01912712 A EP 01912712A EP 01912712 A EP01912712 A EP 01912712A EP 1254565 B1 EP1254565 B1 EP 1254565B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ppv
event
subscriber
purchase
pay
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP01912712A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP1254565A1 (fr
Inventor
John M. Schlarb
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Scientific Atlanta LLC
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Scientific Atlanta LLC
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Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US09/501,882 external-priority patent/US6802077B1/en
Application filed by Scientific Atlanta LLC filed Critical Scientific Atlanta LLC
Publication of EP1254565A1 publication Critical patent/EP1254565A1/fr
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Publication of EP1254565B1 publication Critical patent/EP1254565B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/25—Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
    • H04N21/262—Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists
    • H04N21/26208—Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists the scheduling operation being performed under constraints
    • H04N21/26241—Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists the scheduling operation being performed under constraints involving the time of distribution, e.g. the best time of the day for inserting an advertisement or airing a children program
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/25—Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
    • H04N21/266—Channel or content management, e.g. generation and management of keys and entitlement messages in a conditional access system, merging a VOD unicast channel into a multicast channel
    • H04N21/26613—Channel or content management, e.g. generation and management of keys and entitlement messages in a conditional access system, merging a VOD unicast channel into a multicast channel for generating or managing keys in general
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/472—End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content
    • H04N21/47211—End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content for requesting pay-per-view content
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/482—End-user interface for program selection
    • H04N21/4821—End-user interface for program selection using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
    • H04N21/81—Monomedia components thereof
    • H04N21/812—Monomedia components thereof involving advertisement data
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00—Television systems
    • H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
    • H04N7/162—Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing
    • H04N7/165—Centralised control of user terminal ; Registering at central
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00—Television systems
    • H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
    • H04N7/173—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
    • H04N7/17345—Control of the passage of the selected programme
    • H04N7/17354—Control of the passage of the selected programme in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals

Definitions

  • This present invention relates to a system of providing pay-per-view services in a subscriber television system and, more specifically, to providing interstitial video pay-per-view services and pay-per-view referrals in subscriber television systems.
  • the current methods of providing Pay-Per-View (PPV) services include a PPV program channel and a couple of separate event channels for showing the PPV events.
  • the PPV program channel provides advertising of future PPV events, video previews, and can include a PPV program guide that lists the PPV programs, the show times of the programs, and a description of each program.
  • a PPV event (“Movie A" at 6:00 PM) is a specific showing of a PPV program ("Movie A").
  • the PPV events are shown on the event channels; i.e., the subscriber tunes to a separate event channel to watch a purchased PPV event.
  • a PPV event is transmitted to a Home Communications Terminal (HCT) at a subscriber location in the event channel signal during the show time of the PPV event. Only a subscriber that has purchased the PPV event can view it. Other subscribers will see a scrambled signal if they tune to the event channel associated with the PPV event. If a subscriber tunes to the wrong channel after purchasing a PPV event, the subscriber will miss the PPV event until the subscriber tunes to the correct channel.
  • HCT Home Communications Terminal
  • the digitizing of broadband signals now allows a subscriber television system to offer thousands of channels, of which hundreds can be PPV channels.
  • PPV channels produce revenue for a subscriber television system.
  • the PPV event data must be retrieved as it is used and may change at any time.
  • the PPV event database becomes too large to be stored in most HCTs, must be split into multiple files to avoid exceeding bandwidth-related file size limitations, and requires an efficient sort mechanism to minimize delays in accessing the information.
  • VBI Vertical Blanking Interval
  • a PPV system in which the Pay-Per-View service is easy for a subscriber to use, in which a subscriber that does not purchase a PPV event can be shown advertising with video, in which advertising can be shown between advertising windows in a way that does not cause subscriber confusion, and in which the required PPV service and event information is transmitted to the HCT efficiently in order to minimize the amount of information that must be transmitted over the network, the memory required for storage in the HCT, and the amount of time required to access the information from the network by the HCT.
  • a PPV system that directs a subscriber to the next showing of the PPV event regardless of the time or channel associated with the next showing.
  • the present invention concerns a method for causing to be displayed to a suscriber of a PPV system a referral for a next showing of an event, as defined in the appended claims.
  • the present invention provides a single, multipurpose Pay-Per-View channel for all PPV services, provides advertising during PPV events to subscribers that have not purchased a current PPV event, provides general interstitial advertising between advertising windows, provides an efficient method of organizing the PPV event database for efficient access in response to subscriber input, and provides a method to direct a subscriber to the next showing of the PPV event regardless of the time or channel associated with the next showing.
  • the present invention provides a single, multipurpose PPV channel that a subscriber tunes to for all PPV services. From the subscriber's perspective, the program guide, previews, advertising, purchasing options, and showings of all PPV events occur on a single channel.
  • the advertising on a single multipurpose channel can be directed to the type of programming on all the channels in the group.
  • the HCT tunes to the MPEG transport stream and program information for the selected PPV event and displays the PPV event on the single, multipurpose PPV channel at its associated start time.
  • the subscriber does not have to select another channel.
  • the subscriber that has not purchased a current PPV event continues to watch the previews, advertising, or program guide without interruption on the single, multipurpose PPV channel. If a subscriber is watching the single, multipurpose PPV channel and has not purchased a PPV event, the subscriber continues to see advertising with video or previews even between the event specific advertising.
  • the PPV event database is organized to maximize the efficiency of providing information based on different types of subscriber input. Accessing an immediate file provides all the information describing what is currently showing and what will be showing next. From a PPV guide if a program showing the next day looks interesting and a subscriber wants to know when it will start, a service file is accessed. If the subscriber wants to know more about a future movie before purchasing it, a related advanced file is accessed to provide a description of the program, a rating, and other non event information associated with the program.
  • the present invention provides a PPV referral to direct a subscriber to the next showing of the PPV event regardless of the time or channel associated with the next showing.
  • the PPV referral displays the time, the channel, and other program information, such as cost or ratings, for the next showing of the PPV event that the subscriber can no longer purchase.
  • the subscriber is given an opportunity to buy the indicated next showing on the same display that includes the other information about the next showing of the PPV event.
  • This is intended to provide a simple and easy process to elicit a PPV purchase from a subscriber that has indicated an interest in purchasing a PPV event but has missed the purchase window for the current showing.
  • the subscriber is provided directly with information on the PPV event they missed and a simple way to purchase the next showing.
  • the system operator has an increased opportunity for additional revenue from the purchase of the next showing of the PPV event.
  • FIG. 1 is an overview of a subscriber television system 100, which offers Pay-Per-View services to its subscribers.
  • a headend 110 receives and organizes input programming and information for distribution to the subscriber locations 150 via a transmission medium 130, such as a two-way digital hybrid fiber-coax (HFC) network.
  • a Pay-Per-View (PPV) application server 120 in the headend 100 provides the programming for the PPV services.
  • a PPV client program module on Home Communications Terminal (HCT) 155 interfaces between the subscriber inputs and the PPV services to be displayed on a display device, such as television 156.
  • HCT Home Communications Terminal
  • FIG. 11 illustrates a time line for advertising, purchasing, and displaying PPV events.
  • the display of PPV event A 1110 starts at 9:00 and ends at 11:30.
  • the secure purchase window 1120 for PPV event A 1110 is open from 8:55 to 9:15. Any purchase of PPV event A 1110 prior to 8:55 is stored and activated after 8:55.
  • the event A advertising window 1115 opens at 8:00 and closes at 9:15 when the purchase window 1120 closes.
  • the display of PPV event B 1170 starts at 12:00.
  • the event B advertising window opens at 11:00.
  • the interstitial time 1150 in this example, is from the close of the event A advertising window 1115 at 9:15 until the opening of the event B advertising window at 11:00.
  • the interstitial advertising includes general advertising that is differentiated from the advertising for a particular event.
  • the interstitial advertising can include a wide variety of different types of advertising, such as advertising related to the theme of the PPV service or advertising for products or services, such as a card dealership, that are completely unrelated to PPV services.
  • FIG. 12 illustrates a PPV window that indicates the PPV event is no longer available for purchase.
  • the subscriber can press the Select button on a remote control, as indicated by icon 1202, to access the PPV referral window.
  • FIG. 13 illustrates a PPV Referral window with program information for the next showing of the PPV event.
  • the PPV referral displays the time, the channel and other program information for the next showing of the PPV event that the subscriber can no longer purchase in Program Information Block 1302.
  • the Buy Icon 1304 provides a visual clue to the subscriber to press the B button on a remote control to purchase the PPV event.
  • FIG. 2 is a state diagram that illustrates a method for tuning to multiple PPV services on a single channel.
  • Watch TV state 201 a subscriber is watching a non PPV channel.
  • the Watch TV program module on HCT 155 controls the functions associated with the subscriber watching television.
  • the method transitions to the Watch PPV state 205.
  • the Watch PPV program module coordinates the display of information on the single, multipurpose PPV channel that was selected by the subscriber. From the subscriber's perspective, the program guide, previews, advertising, purchasing options, and showings of all PPV events occur on a single channel. The PPV events may be organized into several services or PPV channels for guide display, but the programming is displayed on the single PPV channel.
  • the Watch PPV program module coordinates the display of the PPV guide, the previews, advertising, and the purchase options.
  • the Watch PPV program module includes a variety of functions, such as a purchase barker, a preview barker, an event advertisement window, and a countdown function. From the Watch PPV state 205, the method can transition to any of several states depending on the events that occur.
  • the method proceeds to the Interstitial Service state 206. Interstitial advertising is displayed in this state. The method returns to Watch PPV state 205 when the advertising window for the next PPV event opens.
  • the method transitions to the PPV guide state 210.
  • the subscriber can navigate the PPV guide and purchase a PPV event from the PPV guide.
  • the method returns to the Watch PPV state 205.
  • a subscriber can purchase a PPV event in several ways, such as from a purchase barker displayed by Watch PPV or from the PPV guide.
  • the selection of a purchase option from the PPV Guide state 210 or the Watch PPV state 205 results in the method transitioning to the Purchase PPV Event state 215.
  • the validation of the purchase and the determination of the status of the PPV event to be purchased is determined in the Purchase PPV Event state 215. If the purchase is for a future PPV event, a timer is set for the time when the purchase window for the future PPV event will open, the purchase information is stored, and the method returns to the Watch PPV state 205.
  • the actual secure purchase occurs just before the actual PPV event, but does not require any additional input from the subscriber.
  • the method transitions from the Watch PPV state 205 back to the Purchase PPV Event state 215 when the timer indicates the purchase window is open.
  • a secure purchase is made either with the stored information from a previous purchase or directly with subscriber input.
  • the method transitions from the Purchase PPV Event state 215 to the Watch PPV Event state 225.
  • a Watch TV application is activated, which coordinates the actual display of the PPV event. The subscriber does not have to select another channel.
  • the HCT 155 tunes to the MPEG transport stream and program information for the selected PPV event and displays the PPV event on the single subscriber PPV channel.
  • the method transitions back to the Watch PPV state 205.
  • the subscriber that has not purchased a PPV event continues to watch the previews or advertising uninterrupted on the single PPV channel from the Watch PPV state 205.
  • the method transitions back to the Watch TV state 201.
  • the Purchase PPV Event state 215 can refer the subscriber to the PPV Referral state 230.
  • the subscriber is then provided with the information about the next showing of the selected event without having to return to the PPV Guide state 210.
  • the PPV referral can display the information about the next showing of the PPV event in a variety of ways such as in a banner or a barker.
  • the subscriber can also indicate a desire to purchase the next showing of the PPV event and the method transitions back to the Purchase PPV Event state 215.
  • the PPV data for hundreds of PPV channels can be very large if it includes program descriptions, ratings, other related information, and start times for several days for each program.
  • the PPV database files are organized into multiple file types, including Immediate files, Guide files, Index files, Service files, and Advanced files, to provide efficient access in response to specific subscriber input.
  • Each PPV program is typically shown multiple times. Each showing will have its start time and other associated parameters associated with the specific showing, such as cost.
  • the information specific to a particular showing comprises the PPV event. This organization allows multiple PPV events to reference a program file.
  • the primary sort order for Advanced PPV data files is by program record, then by PPV event start time.
  • PPV events are accessed by service identification and start time (or entitlement identification) or by program title and start time. Accessing a PPV event by service identification and start time (or entitlement identification) requires two operations, one to get a handle for the PPV event and a second to read the PPV event information from an advanced file, based on the handle.
  • the handle is a pointer to indicate where additional information associated with a PPV event is located in an advanced file.
  • PPV files index, services, advance, and guide files
  • Each of these files includes a version number, which is incremented whenever the index, services, advance, or guide file is updated.
  • the PPV client For any multiple-file operation, the PPV client must ensure that the version number is consistent for each file, and restart the operation if the version does change.
  • a PPV event is modified (e.g., extended or deleted) by the PPV server 120, all files, which include the PPV event, are updated at the same time. The passthrough message for the change is not sent until all of the files reflect the new PPV event data.
  • the Immediate file provides information for the next two PPV events on each service for a quick and immediate response to subscriber input.
  • the Immediate file contains two events, current and next, for each service with all available information for each event. If no event is active (i.e., there is a gap between the previous and next events), this file will include the currently advertised event and the next advertised event.
  • the Watch PPV application uses immediate files to coordinate the multiple functions associated with the advertising and previews. Each PPV service is capable of advertising only one event at a time. This fact is exploited to speed up the PPV client user interface. Upcoming events (those which are currently advertised or active on each PPV service) are sent in the Immediate file.
  • This Immediate file is small, it may be included in a carousel frequently.
  • the carousel describes how frequently a file is available to be read in the transport stream from the headend and how large the file can be. This allows the purchase barker for an upcoming event to be available more quickly (i.e. included in the carousel more frequently) than the purchase prompt for a future event.
  • the PPV server updates the Immediate file each time a PPV event ends, to remove the expired PPV event, and add the next PPV event.
  • the Guide file provides program titles and a handle into the Advanced file for additional information about each program.
  • the Guide file is an alphanumerically sorted listing of all program titles and associated show times.
  • the Guide file is small enough that it can be cached in DRAM, so that there is no User Interface (UI) latency while the subscriber scrolls through the list of available PPV programs.
  • the PPV server will update the Guide file whenever new PPV programs are added, or when the file version number changes.
  • the Index file provides relatively static information for each PVV service and contains a global text heap.
  • the global text heap includes standard text strings, such as "$3.99", "1-800-BUY-PPV2", and other frequently used text.
  • the PPV applications can refer to the small table offset associated with each text string and do not have to refer to the entire text. For example, an application refers to table offset 01 rather than referring to "1-800-BUY-PPV2".
  • the PPV server 120 updates index when a PPV service is added or deleted, or when the distribution of the services in the service file changes.
  • the Index file is also updated when its version number changes.
  • FIG. 3 is a graphical depiction of an Advanced file 320.
  • the Advanced file 320 contains all of the PPV programs and events known to the PPV server, several days or even weeks in advance.
  • the PPV client in HCT 155 uses the Advanced file 320 for browsing PPV event information, for purchasing PPV events, to restore PPV event information if the HCT 155 loses power.
  • the Advanced file 320 is organized into program records, which are sorted alphanumerically, such as from A to Z.
  • Each program record 330 contains a PPV Program title and a list of PPV Events for that program, sorted by start time. If this data is too large to be sent in one file, the PPV server divides the Advanced file 320 into multiple files. Each divided file includes a base index indicating the first program record in the file.
  • FIG. 4 is a graphical depiction of a Service file 405.
  • the Service file 405 is organized by services 406, such as the PPV1, PPV2, etc. listings on a PPV guide. For each separate service 407 there is a listing 408 of every start time 409 and an associated handle 410.
  • services 406 such as the PPV1, PPV2, etc. listings on a PPV guide.
  • the Service file 405 can contain entitlement identification (EID), start time 409, length, and a handle 410 for every PPV event, by service.
  • EID entitlement identification
  • the Service file is used to look up the handle 410 of the PPV event.
  • This handle 410 provides enough information to locate the PPV event/program data in the Advanced file 320. This reduces the time spent searching the Advanced file 320 for information and allows the event or program information to be loaded into memory on the HCT 155 without having to load the entire advanced file.
  • the PPV server updates the Service file 305 and the Advanced file 320 at least once per day, to remove expired programs and events. Additionally, updates can occur at any time to add new programs and events, or modify existing events. These files are updated at the same time, so that any new program/event indices are valid.
  • FIG. 5 is an overview of program modules that support a single, multipurpose PPV channel.
  • a method for providing communications between the program modules is provided by a Service Activation Manager (SAM), which is described in PCT Application Number WO99/57905 Jerding et al ., System and Method for Providing a Plurality of Programming Services in a Television System, and PCT Application Number WO98/37695, Defreese et al ., System and Method for Providing a Full Service Television System.
  • SAM Service Activation Manager
  • a Purchase List Manager (PLM) program module 505 maintains a single list for all PPV purchases.
  • the PLM 505 also provides Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to generate lists for a General Settings program module 520, including Pending Events (cancelable PPV events, composed of both advance and secure purchases), Past Events (no longer cancelable PPV events which have started), and Pre-Purchased Events (PPV events which haven't started yet).
  • the Purchase List Manager 505 has no user interface (UI) component, and exists mainly to provide a centralized interface between the PPV client and other entities.
  • UI user interface
  • the PLM 505 is responsible for maintaining the Purchase List with all relevant data for each PPV event, reconstructing the Purchase List following an HCT 155 power loss, providing Purchase and Cancel APIs which insulate other components from knowledge of whether the purchase is an advance or a secure purchase, managing the state of each PPV event in the list (cancelable, immediate cancelable, secure-purchased, etc.), canceling a PPV event if the purchase window closes and it has not been authorized or has a status problem, and if a purchase is changed or removed (either by the server or the user), notifying other applications, as appropriate.
  • a PPV Daemon program module 507 is the interface to the PPV server 508.
  • the PPV Daemon 507 accepts PPV passthrough messages from the PPV server 508 and notifies Watch PPV application 510 and the General Settings program module 520 if a pending PPV event is modified or deleted.
  • the PPV Daemon 507 has no UI component.
  • the PPV Daemon 507 retrieves PPV event and program data, allocates memory for the retrieved information, insulates the rest of the PPV Client from updates when possible, and organizes concurrent PPV requests.
  • An operating system 525 includes the purchase manager, performs secure purchases of PPV events when a purchase window opens, and maintains the appropriate purchase status (okay or failed) for the PPV events.
  • a General Settings program module 520 generates event lists in chronological order (by start time) and activate the cancel purchase process, which displays a warning before allowing the viewer to cancel a PPV event from the PPV Cancel program module 521.
  • a Watch PPV program module 510 is analogous to the Watch TV application.
  • the Watch PPV module 510 is activated when a subscriber selects a PPV service through the SAM.
  • the Watch PPV module 510 maintains the state of the current PPV event, presents the barker or service that is associated with the state of the current PPV event, gets the next PPV event when the current PPV event is no longer current, and activates the Purchase Prompt when a timer is set for a PPV channel.
  • the Watch PPV program module 510 coordinates the purchase barker 511, preview barker 512, preview end barker 513, countdown barker 514, no event barker 515, and the problem barker 516.
  • the Watch PPV program module 510 interfaces to the Watch TV application, the PLM 505, Interstitial service module 530, Timers 570, and Purchase Prompt module 580.
  • the purchase barker program module 511 displays a purchase barker when the advertised event is not purchased, and no preview is active.
  • the purchase barker shows the information about the PPV event, such as the title, description, cost, and running time of the event.
  • the preview barker program module 512 displays a preview barker when the advertised event is not purchased, and the event is pre-viewable.
  • the preview barker shows the same information as the purchase barker.
  • the preview ended barker program module 513 displays a preview ended barker if the advertised event is not purchased when the preview window closes. Its purpose is to alert the subscriber that the preview has ended, and that the subscriber is missing the PPV event (now in progress). If the preview window closes while the Preview Barker is displayed, the Preview Ended Barker is shown.
  • the countdown barker program module 514 displays a countdown barker when the advertised event has been purchased, but is not yet pre-viewable or active.
  • the countdown barker shows information about the PPV event, such as the title, description, start, and end time for the PPV event.
  • the problem barker program module 516 displays a problem barker when the advertised event has been purchased, but there is a problem with the purchase.
  • the problem barker can describe the problem and provide a customer service telephone number to call.
  • the interstitial service program module 530 is activated if there is no active or advertisement for the selected PPV service. The interstitial service continues until the advertising window opens for the next PPV event.
  • the PPV alert program module 540 is activated by the Purchase List Manager 505 before, and at the start of a PPV event.
  • the PPV guide program module 560 provides a user-interface to the PPV event information. A PPV purchase can be performed from some PPV guide applications.
  • the timer program module 570 performs multiple functions within a PPV system, such as timing Watch PPV functions, PPV guide functions, and PPV purchase functions.
  • the Purchase prompt program module 580 prompts the subscriber to purchase a current or future PPV event.
  • the Purchase prompt creates a list of all marketable PPV events, removes from this list any PPV events which have already been purchased or which are no available to the particular subscriber or which do not have open purchase windows.
  • the Purchase prompt module 580 interfaces with the timers 570 and the Watch PPV application 510.
  • a single multipurpose pay-per-view subscriber channel must be able to provide the normal functions associated with PPV services, such as allowing the subscriber to purchase and advance purchase a PPV event, cancel a purchase, have the purchase authorized, prompt the subscriber to purchase a PPV event, and to securely authorize any purchases.
  • a PPV event can be purchased from a purchase program module that is part of a PPV guide program module, part of the Watch PPV program module, or through other methods.
  • the purchase program module of the present invention allows advanced purchase of future PPV events, even without a PPV guide program module.
  • a subscriber can, all within a Watch PPV program module, select a PPV event from an advertisement or other listing, select a start time, and purchase the PPV event.
  • the PPV event is stored until the authorization or secure purchase window opens and the actual purchase is authorized. No additional input is required from the subscriber in the advanced purchase process after the initial purchase.
  • FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary method for purchasing a PPV event.
  • a purchase program module associated with the Watch PPV program module would receive an activation message from the Watch PPV program module.
  • the Watch PPV activation message indicates a subscriber input, such as a response to a purchase barker, purchase window, or a purchase button on an advertisement.
  • the purchase input often includes a personal identification number (PIN) to verify the subscriber's authorization of the purchase. If a PIN was included in the activation message the PIN is verified.
  • PIN personal identification number
  • a valid PIN message is returned to the Watch PPV program module.
  • the Watch PPV program module activates a timer program module associated with purchasing a PPV event.
  • step 616 the timer program module verifies that there are no conflicts or problems with the purchase timing, such as a previous purchase for the same or an overlapping time. If the timer program module responds with an indication of conflicts, the purchase is stopped and the Watch PPV program module informs the subscriber. If there are no conflicts, in step 618 the timer function responds to the Watch PPV program module with a successful indication.
  • step 620 the Watch PPV program module sends a purchase PPV event command to a purchase list manager program module.
  • the purchase list manager coordinates the purchase and authorization of the purchase using several steps.
  • step 622 the purchase list manager coordinates the storing of the purchase information.
  • step 624 the purchase list manager coordinates adding the PPV event to the list of purchases.
  • the purchase list manager coordinates authorizing the purchase with the purchase manager program module.
  • the authorization window is typically opened shortly before the start of a PPV event. If the authorization window is not open, the purchase remains pending until the authorization window is opened. This pending status allows future purchasing of PPV events.
  • the status of the PPV event is checked and, in step 630, a status message is provided to the Watch PPV program module.
  • FIG. 7 illustrates a method for canceling a purchase.
  • Subscriber input activates a cancel purchase in the general settings program module.
  • the general settings program module activates a cancel PPV purchase program module.
  • the subscriber validates the cancel command.
  • the cancel program module communicates with the purchase list manager to cancel the purchase at step 714. If the PPV event to be canceled is still a future event, step 716 is skipped. If the PPV event is a current event and was authorized, the purchase list manager communicates with the purchase manager to cancel the purchase at step 716. If the communication to the purchase manager to cancel the PPV event is unsuccessful, the purchase is not canceled.
  • the purchase list manager coordinates the other functions associated with canceling the purchase, such as stopping the timer function (step 718), removing the canceled PPV event from the purchased list (step 720), and deleting the canceled PPV event in the Watch PPV application (step 722).
  • the updated list is communicated to the general settings at step 724.
  • the updated purchase summary is created and available for display to the subscriber at step 726.
  • FIG. 8 illustrates a method for notifying a subscriber of a pending PPV event. If a subscriber has purchased a PPV event and is tuned to another channel, a PPV service can notify the subscriber that the PPV event will be starting soon and when the PPV event is actually starting.
  • Tthe timer program module alerts the subscriber, through a PPV alert function, just before the start of a PPV event. This alert is coordinated with the Watch PPV application and a PPV application server interface (a PPV Daemon application). The alert can be one minute or several minutes before the start of the PPV event.
  • the timer program module also alerts the subscriber of the start of the PPV event, again coordinated with the Watch PPV and PPV Daemon applications.
  • the subscriber selects the PPV event from the PPV alert function.
  • the subscriber's can be automatically tuned to the PPV channel to watch the PPV event.
  • the PPV alert program module then communicates the activation of the service for the selected PPV event with the Watch PPV application.
  • FIG. 9 illustrates a method for prompting a subscriber to purchase a PPV event.
  • the start time of a PPV event approaches activation based on the general settings of the PPV system activates the timer program module of the PPV event (step 910).
  • the timer program module notifies an application coordination program module of the upcoming PPV event.
  • the application coordination function such as a SAM application, provides a communication means between multiple applications associated with the PPV services such as the Watch PPV application and the Server interface PPV Daemon application.
  • the Sam notifies the Watch PPV application of the timer program module notice.
  • the Watch PPV application activates a purchase prompt program module.
  • the purchase prompt program module gets information about the upcoming PPV event from the PPV server via the PPV Daemon.
  • the responses from the PPV Daemon are not shown in this illustration.
  • the purchase prompt program module verifies and blocks the PPV event if it has already been purchased or if there is some other reason that the PPV event can not be purchased, such as parental blocking. Otherwise the purchase prompt program module displays the purchase prompt with the PPV event information at step 970.
  • the subscriber cancels the prompt or buys the PPV event. If the subscriber purchases the PPV event, the method of FIG. 6 is used, starting at step 624.
  • FIG. 10 illustrates a method for a secure purchase of a PPV event.
  • Subscriber television systems typically do not want a PPV service to be authorized until just before the start of the PPV event to avoid the possibility of the PPV event being pirated by unauthorized users. To prevent this, a limited purchase window restricts secure purchases and authorization of a PPV event to a few minutes before and after the start of a PPV event.
  • the encryption of a PPV event in the headend 110 requires the authorization and proper instructions or keys to decode the PPV event in the HCT 155. The authorization and downloading of the keys is required to view the PPV event.
  • the advanced purchase of a PPV event is actually stored until the purchase window allows the secure purchase of the PPV event.
  • the purchase list manager issues a purchase command to the purchase manager at step 1010, thereby actually purchasing and getting authorization for the PPV event.
  • the purchase list manager performs a status check on the PPV event purchase at step 1020.
  • the purchase list manager communicates the status to the Watch PPV application at step 1030.
  • the present invention includes a method of providing a single multipurpose PPV subscriber channel in a subscriber television system.
  • the present invention allows several different types of PPV services, each represented by a single multipurpose subscriber channel for the specific type of service (e.g., a family orientated PPV channel, an action movie PPV channel, a sports orientated PPV channel, etc.).
  • Each single channel could include PPV events, advertising, previews, and a PPV guide associated with that PPV channel and its type of programming or service.
  • the described embodiment of the invention includes a single, multipurpose PPV channel
  • the present invention may be used to provide multiple PPV subscriber channels, each with a single PPV service, and a separate subscriber channel for the PPV guide.
  • the advertising on each PPV channel displayed to subscribers not purchasing the PPV event of that service would include video and an interstitial service as described in the foregoing discussion.
  • the present invention describes the advertising with video during the display time of a PPV event, such that subscribers not purchasing the PPV event can see previews and advertising associated with the PPV service.
  • Advertising or previews can be provided as an interstitial service during the interstitial period between the PPV event advertising windows.
  • This interstitial service can also include video.
  • the advertising has been described as PPV event related or as part of the interstitial service, the present invention is not so limited.
  • the advertising during the event advertising windows is not limited to the event-related advertising.
  • the advertising and associated previews can be related to a variety of other things, such as an item associated with the position of a cursor in a PPV program list, the theme of the PPV service, future events, or products and services that are not related to the PPV service.
  • the present invention describes a method of accessing the PPV event information.
  • the present invention describes providing a PPV referral.
  • PPV referral can be employed in conjunction with and independently from other aspects of the present invention.
  • a PPV referral banner or barker could be displayed on each PPV channel after the purchase window closes referring to the next showing of the current PPV event for that channel.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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  • Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
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  • Marketing (AREA)
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Abstract

L'invention concerne un procédé pour une présentation de programme à la carte (PPV) fournissant à un abonné l'heure, la date et la chaîne de la prochaine diffusion d'un événement PPV si l'abonné essaie d'acheter l'événement PPV après que la fenêtre d'achat ait été fermée pour la diffusion en cours. L'abonné reçoit des informations sur la prochaine diffusion de l'événement PPV indépendamment du moment ou de la chaîne sur laquelle a lieu la prochaine diffusion. De plus, l'invention concerne un procédé et un système fournissant une seule chaîne PPV polyvalente qu'un abonné syntonise pour tous les services PPV. Il peut n'y avoir qu'une seule chaîne PPV polyvalente pour tous les services PPV ou des chaînes PPV individuelles pour des groupes de service similaires, tels qu'une chaîne PPV familiale. Chacune représente une seule chaîne polyvalente de programmation similaire. Une fois qu'un abonné achète un événement PPV, le terminal de communication domestique HCT se syntonise sur le train de transport MPEG et des informations de programme pour l'événement PPV sélectionné, et il affiche l'événement PPV sur la seule chaîne PPV polyvalente à son heure de début associée. L'abonné n'a pas à sélectionner une autre chaîne. L'abonné n'ayant pas acheté un événement PPV en cours continue à regarder les prévisualisations, la publicité ou le guide de programme ininterrompu sur la seule chaîne PPV polyvalente. Si un abonné regarde la seule chaîne PPV polyvalente et n'a pas acheté un événement PPV, il continue à voir la publicité avec vidéo ou des prévisualisations même entre la publicité spécifique aux événements. Un service interstitiel fournit les prévisualisations, la publicité ou un guide PPV pendant la période entre les annonces publicitaires d'événements PPV.

Claims (8)

  1. Procédé destiné à amener à être affichée, dans un système de télévision par abonnement qui procure des services de télévision à la carte, pour tout abonné au système essayant d'acheter un événement de télévision à la carte, une présentation pour une prochaine représentation de l'événement de télévision à la carte lorsqu'une fenêtre d'achat pour une représentation en cours de l'événement de télévision à la carte est fermée, le procédé étant caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend les étapes consistant à :
    identifier le moment auquel la fenêtre d'achat pour la représentation en cours de l'événement de télévision à la carte se ferme, et
    en réponse au fait que la fenêtre d'achat pour l'événement de télévision à la carte en cours est fermée, le fait d'inclure en outre les étapes consistant à :
    afficher dans une première fenêtre que l'événement de télévision à la carte en cours ne peut pas être acheté,
    fournir dans la première fenêtre une invite d'abonné pour une fenêtre de présentation, et
    en réponse au fait que l'abonné répond à l'invite d'abonné, le fait d'inclure en outre les étapes consistant à :
    analyser une base de données de télévision à la carte pour rechercher des informations associées à la prochaine représentation de l'événement de télévision à la carte, et
    afficher dans la fenêtre de présentation les informations associées à la prochaine représentation de l'événement de télévision à la carte à l'abonné qui essaie d'acheter l'événement de télévision à la carte en cours.
  2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre l'étape consistant à amener une option d'achat pour la prochaine représentation de l'événement de télévision à la carte à être affichée.
  3. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les informations associées à la prochaine représentation de l'événement de télévision à la carte sont choisies parmi un groupe d'informations constituées d'une heure de prochaine représentation de l'événement de télévision à la carte, d'une date de prochaine représentation de l'événement de télévision à la carte, et d'un numéro de canal de la prochaine représentation de l'événement de télévision à la carte.
  4. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'affichage des informations associées à la prochaine représentation de l'événement de télévision à la carte est amené à être affiché dans une fenêtre de présentation de télévision à la carte.
  5. Procédé selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre les étapes suivantes consistant à :
    analyser la base de données de télévision à la carte pour rechercher les informations associées à au moins une représentation de l'événement de télévision à la carte après la prochaine représentation de l'événement de télévision à la carte, et
    amener à être affichées les informations associées à la au moins une représentation de l'événement de télévision à la carte, après la prochaine représentation de l'événement de télévision à la carte, pour tout abonné au système essayant d'acheter l'événement de télévision à la carte en cours lorsque la fenêtre d'achat pour l'événement de télévision à la carte est fermée.
  6. Procédé selon la revendication 1,
    comprenant en outre les étapes consistant à :
    recevoir une entrée de l'abonné pour acheter la prochaine représentation de l'événement de télévision à la carte,
    en réponse au fait que la fenêtre de présentation est fermée, mémoriser l'entrée de l'abonné, et
    en réponse au fait que la fenêtre de présentation est ouverte, acheter la prochaine représentation de l'événement de télévision à la carte.
  7. Procédé selon la revendication 6, comprenant en outre les étapes consistant à :
    déterminer si la fenêtre de présentation est fermée,
    en réponse à la détermination du fait que la fenêtre de présentation est fermée, initier un temporisateur pour le moment auquel la fenêtre de présentation est ouverte, et
    dans lequel la prochaine représentation de l'événement de télévision à la carte est achetée après que la fenêtre de présentation est ouverte.
  8. Procédé selon la revendication 6, comprenant en outre l'étape consistant à :
    procurer à l'abonné une option d'achat pour la prochaine représentation de l'événement de télévision à la carte.
EP01912712A 2000-02-10 2001-02-08 Procede pour une presentation de programme a la carte Expired - Lifetime EP1254565B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/501,882 US6802077B1 (en) 1998-05-01 2000-02-10 Method for a pay-per-view referral
US501882 2000-02-10
PCT/US2001/004127 WO2001060067A1 (fr) 2000-02-10 2001-02-08 Procede pour une presentation de programme a la carte

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1254565A1 EP1254565A1 (fr) 2002-11-06
EP1254565B1 true EP1254565B1 (fr) 2007-11-07

Family

ID=23995404

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01912712A Expired - Lifetime EP1254565B1 (fr) 2000-02-10 2001-02-08 Procede pour une presentation de programme a la carte

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1254565B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE60131248T2 (fr)
WO (1) WO2001060067A1 (fr)

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5592551A (en) * 1992-12-01 1997-01-07 Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. Method and apparatus for providing interactive electronic programming guide
US5751282A (en) * 1995-06-13 1998-05-12 Microsoft Corporation System and method for calling video on demand using an electronic programming guide

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE60131248T2 (de) 2008-08-28
EP1254565A1 (fr) 2002-11-06
WO2001060067A1 (fr) 2001-08-16
DE60131248D1 (de) 2007-12-20

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